decolonizing language.

errr...mic check is this thing on? it's been a minute y'all! I am back + got so much to share. I've been moving through life + taking my time with each passing moment. thanks y'all for your patience.

this newsletter edition is dedicated to a topic that has been moving through me for quite some time. I'm still a student of this work but want to pass on my learnings so we can build on them together. thank you for reading.

as we embody an anti-racist pedagogy, decolonization takes priority to ensure we are moving differently. embodiment requires us to think, act and speak differently in our path toward justice + liberation. decolonizing language has become one of the frameworks for moving in a way that centers equity, inclusion, and justice.

de·col·o·ni·zing

decolonizing is the process in which we rethink, reframe + reconstruct. decolonizing language, therefore, is about ensuring we are framing our dialogue to make note of our exclusionary past while making way for an inclusive future. below are a few examples of decolonizing language.

from stakeholders to contributors...

the issue with the word stakeholder is that in a colonial context, a stakeholder was the person who drove a stake into the land to demarcate the land they were occupying + stealing from Indigenous communities. today, the word is often used in the context of building partnerships.

how can we envision working together equitably if our word choices are rooted in historical violence?

consider exchanging to contributor and/or partner. consider making it as specific as possible to your work. consider that in some instances, this language may change from time to time, project to project.

from capacity building to organizational resiliency...

in 1991, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) defined capacity building as “the creation of an enabling environment with appropriate policy and legal frameworks, institutional development, including community participation, human resources development and strengthening of managerial systems.” The term was subsequently popularized by the international development sector.

too often however, the term is used in white-dominant settings to explore ways to "build up" Black & Brown majority communities. too often it is affirming a white-dominant narrative that lends itself to white saviorism.

to break it down, let's explore "capacity". the context is ambiguous: how much capacity are we talking about? is there a measure for capacity that we're starting with?

if we consider replacing "capacity" with resiliency, we're left with a broader understanding of what we hope to achieve. when describing community-based work, organizational resiliency allows the work to be sustainable + long term. resiliency speaks to adaptability, strength + wisdom gained over time.

strengths-based language for our collaborations ensures equity is at play.

capitalize Black.

“the lowercase black is a color, not a person.” - Associated Press

the summer of 2020 was a turning point for many style manuals—and the capitalization of the word Black came with it. capitalizing Black when describing people and cultures of African origin ensures specificity.

the change reflects socio-cultural norms, which necessarily means that language and power intersect.

to continue exploring your communications, consider the following:

• does your language center the expertise of those involved?
• what is the historical context of your work? does your language invite reflection?
• host an exploratory exercise with your board, staff & contributors to design communications for your work that centers equity + justice. invite reflection from your community + partners to ensure their input is considered.

sources

• 17 Development Clichés
• The Case for Capitalizing the B in Black
• Should we Cancel Capacity Building?

xo

con amor y cari?o,

Beya

beyajimenez.com